Despite Shubman Gill’s failure in the first IND vs WI Test, India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour feels that Gill has the right technique and skills to bat at the crucial and recently vacant number three slot in the Indian Test line-up. Rathour stated that the right-handed batter can shift gears if and when needed and shouldn’t be judged based on one failure.
India won the first Test against the West Indies by an innings and 141 runs, but Gill’s first game as No. 3, replacing the dogged Cheteshwar Pujara, didn’t start well. He was out for only 6 in India’s only innings as skipper Rohit Sharma and debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal struck hundreds, and Virat Kohli contributed 76.
“Three openers were supposed to play, so one had to go at No. 3 and the proposal came from Shubman’s end as his rationale was that he had played all his cricket for Punjab and India A at either No. 3 or 4 and that’s his real slot in longer format is that,” Rathour said during a press conference on Shubman Gill as India’s No. 3.
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“We can’t judge him on basis of one innings. He has a lot of time, the technique and temperament to play time if required and can also play an attacking game when a move on is needed. He can move the game forward. That is what we need at No. 3 as it can be advantageous.” On skipper Rohit’s hundred, the former Test opener said that Indian captain’s ability to change game makes him the player that he is.
“In the last series versus Australia also, he scored a hundred. There is no concern about his batting. We have seen that he can change his game as per requirements. Like he did against Australia and now here. Knowing that you need to change your game is one thing but being able to do that is different. He can do that.”
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